BORO new boy Steve McManus insists his aim is to improve Boro and get them back in the Premier League.

“It’s a big challenge for me and I’m looking forward to it,” said the Scottish international defender who watched the goalless draw with Bristol City from the bench after joining on loan from Celtic.

“Obviously Gordon Strachan is a big factor,” he explained after switching from the Glasgow giants. “I’ve worked with him before and know how good a manager and a coach he is but that’s not the only thing.

“This is a big club and I spoke to the other lads and they said what a good set up it is.

“I wouldn’t say it was a big step down. The Championship is a very competitive league with some really good players and some big clubs. I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“For me the aim is to get back playing and enjoy that challenge, meet new players and hopefully improve my game and improve Boro as a team.

“I want to help them get back up in the Premier League where they belong.”

After a week of speculation, McManus arrived at Hurworth on Friday night and quickly agreed to sign initially on loan until the end of the season.

“It was a long week and a hectic 24 hours,” he said. “I’m just glad it is all sorted now.

“I didn’t expect to play on Saturday. I hadn’t even got to train with the lads but it was good just to watch the game first.

“It was just nice to be about the place and meet the lads and the coaching staff.” McManus, 27, has been at Celtic for ten years and established himself as a first choice stopper under Gordon Strachan. He has played 150 games and scored 17 goals. But the six foot two defender has played just once under new boss Tony Mowbray.

“It was getting frustrating for me at Celtic not playing but that’s football,” he said.

“A new manager has come and made a few changes but everyone in the game knows that it happens and there is nothing you can do.

“But as a player you just want to play. That’s why I’ve come down here, to play.” Scotland boss Craig Levein was in the Riverside crowd on Saturday to watch Boro’s growing Caledonian contingent.

“I didn’t play so he won’t have been making notes on me,” he said. “But I had a wee chat with him. When there’s a new manager you don’t know what to expect and all you can do is play your best and hope you can be in his plans.”

RHYS Williams will be the guest speaker at tonight’s meeting of Middlesbrough FC Official Supporters’ Club at the Riverside Stadium. The meeting will take place in the Fenton Suite and starts at 7.30pm. New and existing members are welcome to attend. New members can join on the night.